Card-sorting machine



May 8, 1951 H. P. MIXER CARD-S0RTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 18, 1948 FIG."|

ULI

UULIU BY .LLL

ATTORNEY May 8, 1951 H. P. MIXER cARD-soRTlNG MACHINE Filed sept. 18, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fie. 4

FIG. 5

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INVENTOR. HAROLD P. MIXER y?, L La? ATTORNEY May 8, 1951 H. P. MIXER 2,552,202

CARD-SORTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1948 3 Sheeins-Sheet 3 FIG. IO FIGQ a JNVENIOR. 53 HAROLD P. Mlxr-:R

BY ALLLL? ATTORNEY Patented May 8, 1951 CARD-SORTING MACHINE Harold P. Mixer, Rockville Centre,I N'. Y., assignor to Remington Rand Inc., New York, N. Y., a

corporation of Delaware Application September 18, 1948, Serial No. 49,929

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to card sorting machines, and more particularly to machines for grouping cards having alphabetic data perforated therein in accordance with well known accounting and statistical analyzing systems.

The invention as herein illustrated is directed to improvements in business machines for sorting cards similar to those disclosed and described in the patents to W. W. Lasker 1,315,370 issued September 9, 1919, and 2,044,120 issued June 16, 1936.

Sorters of this type, up to the time of the instant invention, have been inefficient in the sorting of cards perforated in a combinational hole code indicating the alphabet. To sort cards of this type, it has been necessary to pass the cards through the machine at least three times for each column of data to group the cards in alphabetie sequence. This resulted in undue wear on the cards, shortening their life.

The present invention is directed to improvements in sorting machines whereby cards, perforated with combinational hole code representing alphabetic data, are sorted after being passed through the machine but twice for each column of data.

The principal object of this invention, therefore, is to `provide an improvement whereby the number of operations necessary to sort cards perforated in combinational hole alphabetic code is reduced.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine whereby cards perforated in combinational alphabetic code may be eiciently sorted, without undue wear on the cards.

A still further object is to provide a simple attachment whereby existing machines may be improved to efficiently sort cards perforated with combinational alphabetic code.

A more clear` conception of the operation, construction, and furtherv objects of the invention may be had from the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view illustrating an. embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a iront elevational view of the interpreter unit;

Fig. 3 is a cross section of Fig. 2 taken along the medial line thereof, showing only those parts which are effective when the interpreter unit is in position for the second run;

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are similar to Fig. 3, with certain parts shown in operated position;

Fig'. 7 is a detail showing the mounting for one of the interponents of the interpreter cage;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged isometric detail oia portion of Fig. 7;

Fig- 9 is a diagram showing the interpreter unit in the position for a first run of the machine in sorting cards;

Fig. 10 is a diagram similar to Fig. 9, showing the parts in position for a nal run of cards;

Fig. 11 is an exploded isometric view of a portion of the ring lever control latches, particularly the nines control mechanism; and

Fig. 12 shows a portion of a card perforated 'with a combinational Ahole code representing alpha.

The invention is embodied in a machine for sorting cards similar to that shown and described in the above mentioned patents, and more particularly in 2,044,120.A InA View of this fact only that much description of the sorter necessary for an understanding of the invention will be given, and reference characters similar to those in the patent will be used wherever possible.

A reciprocating pin box containing twelve pins senses one column of a card. The action oi a pin entering a hole in the card yis transmitted over a Bowden wire to a settable wiring unit or interpreter, which in turn transmits the action to a selected gate over a pocket into which the card, upon being fed, is` directed. 'I'he wiring unit has two positions, viz., one in which single hole code is interpreted, and the other in which combinational hole code is interpreted or translated. In the terminology of these codesv the single hole code is identified as the forty five column code, and the combinational as the ninety column code.`

The present invention lies in the modification of the wires, in the forty iive column portion of the rotating cage of the interpreter unit, as disclosed in the Patent. 2,044,120, the wires in the ninety column portion being unchanged.

The Bowden wires 21 (Fig. 1) leading from the sensing unit (not shown) are anchored in a plate 66 and actuate bell-cranks 43 pivoted on a cross shaft 44 carried in a frame 40 secured to the frame of the sorter. There are twelve bell-cranks 43a to m, inclusive, one for each` sensing position. Mounted in the frame pieces. 40A is a rotatable cage or interpreter unit 56 which will be described later. Loosely mounted on a cross shaft 53 above the cage is a plurality of latches 54 which coact with firing levers 46a. b, d, e, f, and y, which are loosely pivoted on a shaft 48 (Figs. 9 and 10). Mounted alongside each firing lever 46 is a firing lever 41a, b, c, d, e, and f, respectively,l of slightly different shape.. A latch 'H (Fig. 11) coacts with lever 41o, which is known as the nines firing lever. The

` latches 54 are connected to wires from the Zero,.

one,' three five, and seven positions in the code, while, latch 1|, of which there is only one, is connected to the interpreter wire from the nine position. Cooperating with a nose on the bell-crank 4-'lc is a, universal bail 'l2 loosely mounted on shaft 53, which bail coacts with and is spring connected to latch T I. The lower ends of all ring levers 41 are formed with hooks which underlie the bail 'l2 so as tofprevent their operation, even though one or more latches 54 may have been released. On a nines operation, i. e., the sensing of a hole in the nine position, the bail 12 is rocked out of the pathy of the hooks on bell-cranks lll,V permitting their operation. The ring lever 47o operates to open the gate of the number nine pocket.

At times during combinational sorting two or more Bowden wires 2l may operate simultaneously, the one actuating a latch 1|, and the others operating one or more latches 54. In this event the following elements will modify the operation: The forwardly extending nose of each latch 54 is in contact with bail 'Hi pivotally mounted on a shaft E3 and spring pressed into engagement therewith. Journaled on the shaft 53 alongside the latch ii is a special latch l which is spring connected to the bail i4 by a spring 16, causing members i4 and 'l5 to move in unison. The nines ring lever To is provided with a pin 'il extending in the path of a hook on the upper edge of the latch 15. It is engaged when the latch rocks counter-clockwise. Hence, rocking of any trigger 5d by any interpreter wire 6| or 62 (except nine) causes the special latch 75 to lock the nines iiring lever 41o against operation. Bail 'l2 rises with the operation of a nines interpreter wire, releasing firing levers 4? for operation, and blocking levers 46, because it now lies in the path of their extreme lower ends.

summarizing, an odd interpreter wire (except zero and nine) rocksa latch 54 to release two firing levers 46 and l. If the nines interpreter wire 6| is not operated, the bail '(2 remains normal and blocks the members 'i against operation, but if the nines wire is operated, bail 12 is elevated by the operation of the special latch ll and the members 4i are released while members 46 are blocked.

The interpreter cage' 5E (Figs. l andV 2) consists of a pair of end members in the form oi discs 26 held in relation to each other by four perforated bars 5l and 5S, and a pair of cross rods S9, thus making a rigid cage for supporting and guiding the interponents or interpreter wires 6| and 62 which constitute card pocket selecting means. The interpreter wires 6| are oi the same forni and layout as those shown in Patent 2,044,120. The wires 52 have been adapted for the work to be performed by the invention. The discs 2,6 are provided with pintles 55 which ride in notches cut in the frames 46. The cage is provided with a handle 55, by which it may bel positioned in either of its operating positions.

The interponents 62 are formed as shown in Figs. 2 to "I, inclusive. There are only four wires, viz., 62a, b, c, and d, inclusive. yWire 52ur is fastened in a block having two pins thereon (Fig. l0) one of which cooperates with bellcrank 43a and the other with bell-crank 43h. Wire 62h is fastened in a block having two pins therein, one of which cooperates with bell-crank 43o and the other with 43d. This block is formed with an arm 20 having a turned over lug 2| thereon. The wire 62d is fastened in a similar block, the pins of which cooperate with bellcranks 43k and 43m, respectively. This block has an arm 22 with a turned over lug 23 thereon. The auxiliary wire 62e is secured inv a block fastened to a box like structure 21|. The structure is formed of one piece of metal bent to form a box, the ends of which are closed by plates 25. A pair of brackets 39 secured to a cross bar 51 forms a slidable mount for the structure 24, which is secured thereto by screws 3| extending through slots 32. A pair of siots 33 are formed in the front wall of the box 2e to accommodate the lugs 2| and 23 on arms 2G and 22. Positioned loosely in the box '2 are three tumblers 35, and 3B. The tumbiers 3d and te are spacers to center the operating tumbler 35. As seen in Figs. 4 and 6, the construction is such that if either one or the other of the lugs 2|, 23 are raised they will pass idly between the tumblers. However, if both lugs are raised together (Fig. 5) they will carry the tumbler 35 between them and raise the tumbler housing 24 and its associated auxiliary interponent B2C.

In Fig. l2 is shown a card perforated in accordance with the ninety column or combinational hole code. The card is customarily divided into upper and lower Zones, each containing forty-live columns of six index positions. Fig. l2 shows only a portion of the upper zone of a card. These index positions, for convenience of description, will be known as the Zero, cne, threef ve, sevenf and nine positions.

For the first run of the machine, while sorting with the invention, the interpreter cage is set in position A (Figs. l and 9). Let it be assumed, as an illustration, that the sensing pins find perforations in the one, five and nine positions cf the upper zone, which, it will be seen by reference to Fig. V12, represents the letter A. Referring to Fig. 9 it will be seen that Bowden wires 2h', 2id, and 21j will be actuated by such a coding. These wires in turn will rock bellranks i3-i, 43d, and i312 respectively, which will raise'inte'rpreter wires Sie, tiib, and 6 |c. This action will unlatch firing levers b, 4113, 45j, 41j, and 41o, whereupon the nines mechanism associated with firing lever c'c (Fig. 1l) will, as described above, withhold levers lief, lilo and 45D, and result in levers Hb and alf being red. These levers will actuate Bowden wires 29o and 297' kleading to the gate control for the two and six pockets, respectively. The opening of the six pocket will have no eect at this time, as the card will reach the two pocket iirst in its travel through the machine, and be directed into that pocket which is the desired pocket.

Any attempt to describe in detail the operation for each and all letters of the alphabet during this rst run would unduly prolong the specication, without adding clarity thereto. It may be said that the operation for each is the same, and the following table shows the pockets into which the different cards will be directed, and in which they will be found at the end of the rst run:

Reject 98165432101112 L x N d K Q F n c z 'r I A s E v H Y B w J D o M P U A rolling stand having a plurality of pockets,

similar in shape to those of the sorter, designated from zero to twelve and A to Z is usually provided to hold the cards withdrawn from the pockets of the sorter after the first run. The cards are thus easily held segregated in accordance with the pockets from which they are removed, i. e., the cards from the zero pocket are placed in the zero pocket of the stand, etc. It will be noted that the cards containing the letters L, X, and G have already been segregated into the Reject eight and five pockets, respectively, and, therefore, can be placed directly in the pockets of the stand designated L, X, and G.

Before starting the second run of the sorting operation, the interpreter cage is rocked to position B (Figs. 1 and 10) bringing the interpreter wires 62 into operative position.

Only those cards from the zero pocket in the previous run are now placed in the machine. Among these are cards containing perforations in the zero, three and ve positions representing the letter D. The sensing of these perforations will actuate Bowden wires E'Hh, 21m, and 21d which, in turn, will rock bell-cranks 43h, 43m, and 43d, respectively. Bell-crank 43h will have no effect, as there is no dependent pin in this position on block 62e. Bell-crank 43m will raise wire 62d, and bell-crank 43d will raise wire B2b. As both of these wires have arms 20 and 22 with lugs 2| and 23 thereon, they will engage the tumbler 35 and raise the auxiliary wire 62e together with its associated wires 62h and 62d (Fig. 5), thus actuating ring levers 46j, Gif, 56d, 41d, 4Gb, and Mb. However, since lever Hc is not actuated the 41 firing levers will be blocked, and the lever df will actuate Bowden wire 29k to open the five pocket. Lever 48d will open the three pocket over Bowden wire 29g, and lever @Bb will actuate Bowden wire 29d to open the one pocket. Due to the fact that the one pocket is reached by the card rst, it will be guided therein. The remainder of the cards taken from the zero pocket will be distributed as shown in the table below.

UMWE

The cards taken from the one pocket are next placed 'in the machine, and among these cards are some perforated in the one and live positions, representing the letter B. The sensing of these positions will actuate Bowden wires 2li and 2id., which will-rock only bell-crank 43d, as ther-e are no dependent pins associated with bell-crank 431' which is actuated by wire 2li. Bellcrank 43d will raise wire $21) (Fig. 6), the lug 2i of arm 2Q thereon passing idly between tumblers 34 and 35. Wire 62h will unlatch ring levers 46j and 4U. As lever Mc is not operated, lever 41j is held and 461 res actuating Bowden wire 29k, opening the five pocket to receive the cards perforated with the letter B. The remainder of the cards taken from the rst pocket will be found in the pockets shown in the table below.

Reject 9 8 7 6 5 0 l1 12 will cause all wires B2 (Fig. 3) to be raised, re-

sulting in the blocking of firing levers 46, and only levers 41h, 41o, and 41j will fire, resulting in the opening of pockets two, four, six, and nine The card enters the two pocket as shown in the table below, which also shows the distribution of the other cards.

Reject98765432l F AHYQI Reject 98765432101112 ZNTU K From the above it is seen that the cards are easily and efficiently sorted alphabetically withcut undue wear on the cards.

While I have described what I consider to be l a' highly desirable embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that many changes in form could be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I, therefore, do not limit myself to the exact form herein shown and described, nor to anything less than the whole of my invention as hereinbefore set forth, and as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed as new, and desired to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device for transmitting movement from operating means controlled by a card sensing mechanism to another group of operating means for controlling the pocket gates of a sorting device comprising a holder, interponents under control of said sensing mechanism slidably mounted in said holder for register at their opposite ends with said groups of operating means, a normally inactive auxiliary interponent inoperable by said sensing mechanism for register with said gate operating means, a tumbler housing connected to said interponent, a tumbler in said housing, and projections on said interponents for engaging the tumbler, said tumbler being movable out of the path of the projections of individually operated interponents and being movable to a position between said `projections when the interponents are operated in unison through said sensing mechanism to actuate said normally inactive auxiliary interponent and gate operating means.

2. In a machine for sorting cards employing single and combination code perforations including hole sensing means, card pocket gate operating means, an interpreter cage for transmitting movement from the sensing means to said operating means, a plurality of transmitting interponents in said cage operable individually to transfer movement between a single sensing means and a single gate operating means and operable in combination to transfer movement between a pair of sensing means and a plurality of gate operating means, a normally inactive auxiliary transmitting interponent inoperable by said sensing means in said cage for moving a gate operating means, said interponent having a tumbler housing thereon and by the concurrent movement of a plurality of interponents operable in said tumbler housing by a combined movement of said transmitting interponents for actuating a gate operating means.

HAROLD P. MIXER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Lasker June 16, 1936 Number 

